Homesteading library – by author

Borsodi, Ralph

Chronicles the Borsodi family’s journey from job-in-the-city to self-sufficient country independence during the prosperity of the 1920s. During the Great Depression many people saw this book as a guiding light toward financial security and a much better life.

Browne, Harry

You might think an investment guide written in 1987 couldn’t be relevant to the current scene. Not so. The first 200 pages examines and demolishes all the usual investment strategies/sales pitches because these usually result in loss. Then Browne introduces the idea of a “permanent portfolio,” a mixture of very low overhead investments whose inevitable ups and downs balance each other resulting in moderate profit with great stability.

Bruce, Maye E

Campbell, Dr. Charles A.R.

The mosquito is one of the greatest hinderances to the enjoyment of country living. They can bring disease. Dr. Campbell discovered ecological handlings that virtually eliminated night-flying mosquitoes by the cultivation of bat colonies.

Cash, John D.Cash, Martin G.

Clark, Andy (ed.)

A complete look a the use of and problems with cover cropping and green manuring that encompasses all climates of the USA. A cooperative writing effort organized by the Sustainable Agriculture Network, U.S.D.A. Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD.

Drew, J.M

Ellis, William

A complete how-to manual of country skills; how-to make everything from bacon to medicine. The book creates an appreciation for mid-18th century English country life; it reveals how the diet and habits of the era created the diseases that demanded the medicines listed.

Graham, BenjaminMcGolrick, Charles

This little book enables an intelligent investor to understand corporate financial reports—if they have been honestly stated. When a corporate financial statement seems incomprehensible or unanalyzable after applying Graham’s book, then it is reasonable to assume that what is being analyzed is an example of accounting dishonesty.

Hall, Bolton

A passionate plea for independence and self-sufficiency on small, intensively worked acreages. Hall illuminates the social forces propelling people into city poverty when they could live with simple liberty and plenty in the country.

Henderson, Peter

Henderson was a master market gardener selling into the New York City market. He had effective techniques for wintering over vegetables, for producing out of season. The contemporary crop of garden gurus have nothing on this man.

Hoye, David

This book clearly and simply demonstrates how any energetic and determined person can make ethanol and/or methanol from all sorts of organic wastes, corn, sugar beets, etc., using home-made equipment of great simplicity, and best of all, this alcohol production is entirely powered by the sun.

Hyams, Edward

Hyams was an avid gardener with a passion for growing melons. Melons may be easy to grow where summers are warm and long, but to raise melons in chilly England is no mean trick. The book also contains helpful tips to succeed with cucumbers and zucchini where the summers are too cool for them.

Logsdon, Gene

About raising food in ponds, rivers, streams, lakes and seaside homesteads. The book shines when discussing areas that Logsdon knows intimately; in other areas it is a bit more of a report and summary of information assembled by Rodale’s editors.

Marr, Charles W., et. al

Thorough discussion of the use of and problems with the use of cover cropping and green manure crops, particularly applicable to the middle latitudes of the United States and of great value to the home gardener considering cover cropping.

Miller, C.C.

Mm. Vilmorin-Andrieux

Illustrations, descriptions and culture of the garden vegetables of cold and temperate climates, written by Mm. Vilmorin-Andrieux of Paris. Written originally in 1885, this edition has been translated into English and contains additional varieties.

Nelson, K.D

K.D. Nelson spent 30 years working with water resources and consulting worldwide. His book provides a sound practical approach to investigating, designing and constructing small earth dams that do not fail. The book contains many detailed drawings and a few photos.

Raphael, T.D.

A thorough treatment of Tasmanian gardening as it was in the 1970s by the state’s “Gardener Laureat” of the era. Covers fruits, vegetables and ornamentals, a full planting schedule, all the usual pests and problems.

Roberts, Rex

Roberts was a master builder; he takes the reader step by step through considering the intelligent design and construction of wooden houses. Roberts reconsiders materials, design principles and popular building styles that aren’t really sensible.

Solomon, Steve

This is a guide to growing food with little or no irrigation. It was written entirely from personal observations and original research between 1979 and 1993 in western Oregon, where there is rarely any rainfall between June through September. It has broad applications to any place where the rains can’t be depended upon.

Solomon, Steve

Two subjects in one book: a basic, how-to-make-compost book in Part One; and an analysis of the nutritional consequences of soil fertility management choices and how to make really good compost in Part Two.